ThatвЂ™s the plan for 2022, too, but Rosette said Shinny will ultimately decide that. Or, maybe, Shinny was just going too good, no matter who he raced.ДЇor most of 2021, Shinny raced every three to five weeks, or so. Rosette and Diodoro successfully walked that line in 2021. For trainers and owners, thereвЂ™s an art and a science to finding races that test a horse, yet donвЂ™t overwhelm him. Shinny has met every challenge, including incremental steps up in class. вЂњThe hat trick is tough to do, and he kept doing it, just did it easier every time,вЂќ Ortiz said. ThatвЂ™s when Ortiz knew the horse was special. ShinnyвЂ™s third consecutive victory came last June. вЂњHeвЂ™s a horse who loves his job, loves his attention,вЂќ Ortiz said. Turns out, Shinny was just playing around. The boss mentioned later, вЂhey, I forgot to tell you, you have to watch him a bit.вЂ™ Ortiz first met Shinny in Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where Shinny also raced in 2021, and the introduction was brusque.

Eventually, he had six or seven in the stable, but the pandemic contributed as that number dwindling to one by January of 2021. Horses got into his blood, and racing was a way to stay competitive at something outside courtrooms.ДЄ few years after re-settling in Phoenix, Rosette bought his first horse in 2003. As a law student at Arizona State, he spent many an afternoon at Turf Paradise, when time permitted. RosetteвЂ™s been around horses since he was a kid growing up in Holbrook. It was one race, but Rosette had an inkling he might have purchased a pretty special horse for only $3,500. He won that day at Turf Paradise, nine wide, which means he didnвЂ™t exactly take the fastest route around the track. Shinny has been a success since the day Rosette claimed him. He can hide behind most other thoroughbreds, which he occasionally does on the outside of backВ stretches and the inside of home stretches.Д«ut Shinny usually makes his presence known, often with a late kick that is something of a trademark. Outside tracks and winners circles, Shinny looks more like a horse that should be leading others to the starting gate. IвЂ™ll be riding by people and theyвЂ™re like, вЂthatвЂ™s Shinny.вЂ™ Yep, thatвЂ™s Shinny.вЂќ вЂњThatвЂ™s the horse I look forward to riding every day,вЂќ said Isaiah Ortiz, an assistant trainer and exercise rider. Those horses dwarf Shinny in size, but not in accomplishments and not in the hearts of those who are around Shinny every day. He paid for themВ with house money won by Shinny. If not for the little horse two doors down, Rosette would not have claimed Tiger Dad, or bought a 2-year-old filly now training at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. HeвЂ™s the biggest horse in the barn, but not the most important. Two stalls down from Shinny was Tiger Dad, which Rosette claimed for $50,000 last summer in Del Mar, Calif.В In his first start for Rosette, Tiger Dad won a $60,000 stakes race at Turf Paradise. вЂњLook at him, how tiny he is,вЂќ Rosette said then, pointing to Shinny. His first was in the morning, when the only things stirring at Turf Paradise were owners, trainers, exercise riders and horses. Wednesday afternoonвЂ™s race was RosetteвЂ™s second visit to Turf Paradise that day. вЂњI got carne asada and beer at the stable.вЂќ Then Rosette turned to the small group of friends who watched with him. View Gallery: Photos: Shinny, America's winningest racehorse вЂњHe (Shinny) is going to get some carrots. He gave a game effort but finished second, a length behind Rideo. Wednesday, Shinny raced for the first time this year, trying to win his 11th consecutive race. Not bad for a вЂњdegenerateвЂќ idea and an initial $3,500 investment. All Shinny did in return was win 12 races in 2021, more than any other horse in North America, and about $140,000. Rosette claimed the horse, Shinny, for $3,500. вЂњWhat are you going to do? Tell me,вЂќ Diodoro said.ДЄ lot of horse-racing dreams begin, and end, with the above sentence.Д«ut RosetteвЂ™s dream came true. вЂњHey, I want to do something really degenerate, if you donвЂ™t mind,вЂќ Rosette told Diodoro almost a year ago. ItвЂ™s unusual for someone to call his own idea degenerate.В But Rob Rosette figured the best way to get his trainer, Robertino Diodoro, to sign off on the whimsical idea of spending $3,500 to claim a diminutive 4-year-old gelding running at Turf Paradise was to admit upfront that it didnвЂ™t make much sense. Watch Video: Underdog race horse wins most races in 2021

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